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    Home » Recipes » Mains

    Quick Spicy Ramen Stir-Fry

    Modified: May 2, 2024 · Published: Dec 28, 2023 by Christie Lai · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Bouncy instant ramen noodles stir-fried in a light, spicy, savory sauce! This easy 5-minute spicy ramen stir-fry is so delicious and made with simple pantry ingredients. It's a great meal for those busy weeknights and works well as a side dish too!

    Quick Spicy Ramen Stir-Fry
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients & Substitutes
    • Expert Tips
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Pairing Suggestions
    • FAQ
    • Other recipes you may like
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    This delicious Korean-inspired spicy ramen stir fry is made of instant ramen noodles, gochujang, gochugaru, sesame oil, honey, soy sauce, garlic, and mirin.

    This noodle dish serves well as a quick meal or as a side dish with dumplings or a protein of your choice with vegetables.

    Quick Spicy Ramen Stir-Fry

    The best part about this recipe is that it comes together with minimal Asian pantry ingredients and it's a fast recipe made in one pot!

    That's actually how I developed this recipe. I was running late from work and I needed something fast to eat and this truly hit the spot!

    Ingredients & Substitutes

    Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements. 

    • Instant ramen noodles: I like using a thicker noodle for extra chewiness but use what you have or enjoy! If you're gluten-free, substitute with a gluten-free instant ramen.

    Noodle sauce

    • Gochujang paste (pictured below): a Korean red chili paste made of red chili flakes, fermented soybean paste, glutinous rice and salt. It a thick red sweet and spicy paste that comes in a red tub sold at many Korean grocery stores in the sauce aisle. It comes in varying levels of spice from mild to hot. If you're gluten-free, substitute with a gluten-free gochujang.
    • Fresh garlic
    • Sesame oil
    • Gochugaru: these are Korean red chili flakes that offer spice.
    • Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce.
    • Mirin: a popular sweet rice cooking wine used in Japanese cuisine. It’s sweeter than cooking sake and has a very low alcoholic taste. You can find this at most Asian or Japanese grocers.
    • Honey: or maple syrup or white granulated sugar.
    • Neutral oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid olive oil or any heavy scented oils. 

    Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients or check Amazon.

    a picture of gochujang in a red tub

    Expert Tips

    • Prepare the noodle sauce in advance! The cooking process is fast.
    • Use an instant ramen brand that you enjoy. I find the ones with thicker chewy noodles work the best for this kind of recipe.
    • Don't overcook the noodles! Just 2 minutes is enough or until al dente since we're stir-frying this with the sauce later.
    • Reserve some of that noodle water! It helps the sauce bind to the noodles and makes the sauce thicker due to the starch.

    Instructions

    1. In a small bowl, combine the noodle sauce ingredients and set aside.
    2. In a small pot filled with 2 cups/500 ml of water, boil your ramen for 2 minutes and no more than that. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the noodle water. Strain the noodles.
    3. On low-heat, pour the noodle sauce into the pot. Toss in the cooked instant noodles with the reserved noodle water and mix for 30 seconds (no more than that). Remove off heat and enjoy!
    Quick Spicy Ramen Stir-Fry

    Storage

    • Leftovers will last up to 2 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat. Note: the noodles will become mushy over time.
    • Freezer-friendly? I don't recommend freezing cooked instant ramen noodles as they go soggy after reheating.

    Pairing Suggestions

    This spicy ramen stir-fry serves well with:

    • Boiled, pan-fried or deep-fried dumplings
    • Cooked Asian greens like bok choy, baby gai lan, or yu choy sum
    • Boiled, scrambled or fried eggs
    • Cooked tofu, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork

    FAQ

    What kind of ramen did you use?

    I used the brand Jin Ramen but you can use any instant ramen noodles that you enjoy!

    Can I make this in advance?

    You may make this in a few hours in advance and enjoy same day or the noodles will become soggy with time. This dish is best consumed fresh.

    Other recipes you may like

    • Stir-fried Ramen for One
    • Kujirai Ramen
    • 5-minute Kewpie Mayo Ramen Hack
    • Curry Ramen Hack
    • Bulgogi Beef Ramen

    📖 Recipe

    Easy 5-min. Spicy Ramen Stir-Fry

    Christie Lai
    Bouncy instant ramen noodles stir-fried in a light, spicy, savory sauce! This easy 5-minute spicy ramen stir-fry is so delicious and made with simple pantry ingredients. It's a great meal for those busy weeknights and works well as a side dish too!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 3 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Asian, Korean
    Servings 1
    Calories per serving 645 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 serving instant ramen noodles about 4.3 oz/120 grams

    Noodle Sauce:

    • 1 teaspoon gochujang
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • ½ teaspoon gochugaru
    • ½ teaspoon mirin
    • 2 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoon regular soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoon honey or sub with white granulated sugar or maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, combine the noodle sauce ingredients and set aside.
    • In a small pot filled with 2 cups/500 ml of water, boil your ramen for 2 minutes and no more than that. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the noodle water. Strain the noodles.
    • On low-heat, pour the noodle sauce into the pot. Toss in the cooked instant noodles with the reserved noodle water and mix for 30 seconds (no more than that). Remove off heat and enjoy!
    Enjoyed my recipe?Please leave a 5 star review (be kind)! Tag me on social media @christieathome as I'd love to see your creations!

    Suggested Equipment & Products

    • Medium Size Pot 2.4 Qt
    • Measuring Set
    • Steel Colander
    Nutrition
    Calories: 645kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 2932mg | Potassium: 298mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 5mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Elliott

      August 10, 2022 at 3:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is by far the best homemade sauce I've had. All I did was sub the maple syrup for honey, and added extra garlic. It absolutely fulfilled the craving I've been having.

      Reply
      • christieathome

        August 12, 2022 at 11:03 am

        Thanks for making my recipe, Elliot! So glad you enjoyed it and it fulfilled your cravings!

        Reply
    2. Heidi | The Frugal Girls

      August 24, 2020 at 5:48 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a tasty fun dinner idea! I always find ramen addicting, but your tasty sauce really takes the flavors to a whole new fun level.

      Reply
    3. Mako San

      August 17, 2020 at 6:23 pm

      5 stars
      So yummy and so quick and simple! Highly recommend

      Reply
    4. Sherri

      July 24, 2020 at 2:19 pm

      5 stars
      Ever since I found a gluten-free ramen brand I like, I have been on a total ramen kick! I love this stir fry version for a quick and easy dish! I also found some GF veggie dumplings that would be perfect with it! Thanks for the awesome recipe, Christie! 🙂

      Reply
    5. Rosemary

      July 15, 2020 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      Ramen is definitely my favorite type of Asian noodle! And I have a TON of ramen packages I need to use, extra veggies from the farmers market.. just need to figure out where to get that gochugaru

      Reply
      • christieathome

        July 15, 2020 at 7:46 pm

        Thanks Rosemary! Mine too! It's such a delicious noodle and this is a great way to not use those sauce packets and just make your own simple sauce! You can get gochugaru from any Asian or Korean grocer in the spice aisle.

        Reply
    6. Tasia ~ two sugar bugs

      July 13, 2020 at 1:13 am

      5 stars
      Love how quickly this one can come together! Perfect for a busy evening!!

      Reply
    7. Rebecca Dillon

      July 07, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      5 stars
      All of my favorites together. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • christieathome

        July 09, 2020 at 10:34 pm

        Thanks Rebecca!

        Reply

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    Christie

    Christie is an Recipe Blogger with an expertise on Asian recipes! She makes Asian cooking approachable with step-by-step pictures, ingredient & recipe tips and a helpful cooking video. Her quick and easy recipes have been featured on BuzzFeed Tasty, Food52, The Kitchn, The FeedFeed, Sur La Table, Yummly and more! With a following of over 1M+, her recipes are made repeatedly by her loyal readers.

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